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CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Rally Rocks Magic Number At Two

September 2, 2009 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Wilmington, DE- The late magic continued on Wednesday for the Wilmington Blue Rocks, as they plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to earn a 3-1 victory over the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. Anthony Seratelli's two-out, two-run single completed a three-game sweep of the Pelicans for the Blue Crew.

The Rocks surge began on a one-out double to right by Mike Moustakas. He then went to third on a grounder back to the mound by Clint Robinson. Back-to-back two-out walks issued by Myrtle Beach reliever Benino Pruneda loaded the bases. Nick Van Stratten drew the first walk on four pitches, while Chase Fontaine worked hard for his base on balls. The designated hitter fell behind Pruneda (1-3) 0-2, fouled off several pitches, and finally reached on ball-four.

It set up Seratelli with a chance to be the hero. The shortstop delivered with a looping, line-drive single into left that scored Moustakas and Van Stratten to put the Blue Crew on top for good.

Wilmington reliever Patrick Keating earned the win in his Blue Rocks debut. The 22-year-old right-hander entered the game under peculiar circumstances. Carlos Rivas exited the contest thanks to a bad back with a 2-0 count on his third batter faced. Keating inherited that count with one out and a runner on second base in the seventh inning. And although he would put his first batter faced on with a walk, Keating (1-0) bounced back to escape the jam unscathed courtesy of a pop fly and a strikeout.

Then in the eighth, the Royals' 2009 20th round draft choice set Myrtle Beach down in order.

The late-game activity betrayed the early tone on Wednesday. The contest started out as a pitcher's duel between Wilmington starter Kelvin Villa and Myrtle Beach hurler Richard Sullivan.

Villa did not find out he was starting until a little more than an hour before game-time, as Danny Gutierrez was a late scratch. The left-hander calmly responded with his longest outing of the season in his first start of the year. Villa allowed only one unearned run on two hits over six strong innings.

He took a no-decision however thanks to an equally effective performance by Sullivan. The southpaw surrendered just a single run on seven hits and three walks in seven innings pitched.

Wilmington takes Thursday off, before beginning its final series of the regular season on Friday against the Frederick Keys. Eduardo Paulino (9-6, 3.69), the Blue Rocks' Pitcher of the Month for August, takes the hill for the Blue Crew. Frederick will counter with right-hander Kenny Moreland (4-1, 4.29), as first pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m. After the game, fans will be treated to a spectacular fireworks show.

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:

Kelvin Villa's seven strikeouts were good for a season-high. The left-hander had not fanned more than four batters in a game during 2009. The effort fell just one shy of tying his new career-high.

Wilmington starters have fanned 34 batters in 24.1 innings pitched over the last four games. Danny Duffy whiffed eight Red Sox on Sunday, while Michael Montgomery followed with 12 punchouts in Monday night's win over the Pelicans, and Alex Caldera struck out seven on Tuesday.

The Potomac Nationals dropped a 4-3 decision to the Lynchburg Hillcats. That means the Rocks lead in the Carolina League North is now up to 3.5 games. Wilmington's magic number has also been narrowed to two.

With the postseason getting to be more of a certainty every night, the Rocks decided to hold Wednesday's originally scheduled starter Danny Gutierrez out of action. Wilmington manager Brian Rupp said the team is looking at setting up their potential postseason pitching rotation.

The victory gave the Rocks their ninth series-sweep of the season.

Wednesday's win came in the teams' final meeting of 2009. Wilmington won the season-series with the Pelicans, 11-9. The Rocks split their 10 meetings with Myrtle Beach on the Riverfront.

Despite owning more wins (81) than any other team in the circuit during 2009, the Blue Rocks placed only one player on the postseason Carolina League All-Star team. Wilmington center fielder Derrick Robinson was named an outfielder on the squad that was announced by the League Office on Wednesday night.

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Carolina League Stories from September 2, 2009


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